Press Releases

GARY, Ind. — The Gary SouthShore RailCats announced the signing of former Japanese major league pitcher Yasutomo Kubo on Thursday. The 37-year-old is 93-84 with a 3.66 ERA and 1,097 strikeouts over 13 seasons in the Nippon Professional Baseball.

Last season, Kubo went 4-2 with a 5.35 ERA in seven starts with the Yokohama Dena BayStars. The right-hander struck out 33 hitters over 37 innings and allowed just 46 hits and 14 walks.

Kubo began his professional baseball career in the NPB with the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2005. The Marines won the NPB after sweeping the Hanshin Tigers, 4-0, in the Japan Championship Series while Kubo was named the Japan Pacific League Rookie of the Year. Kubo finished 10-3 with a career-high five complete games (three shutouts) and a 3.40 ERA in 19 games (18 starts). A native of Kashihara, Japan, Kubo recorded 84 strikeouts over 121.2 innings pitched and yielded 120 hits and 26 walks.

Kubo went 7-13 with a 4.55 ERA and a complete game over 23 games (22 starts) in 2006. Kubo punched out 119 batters while allowing 153 hits and 32 walks. In 2007, Kubo went 9-8 with a 4.00 ERA and two complete games over 21 games (19 starts). Kubo struck out 82 hitters while walking just 11 batters in 128.1 innings. Kubo finished 4-7 with a 4.95 ERA in his final year with Chiba Lotte in 2008.

Kubo signed with the Hanshin Tigers in 2009, going 9-8 with a 3.75 ERA and one complete game shutout. Kubo racked up 113 strikeouts and yielded 140 hits and 50 walks over 151.1 innings. Kubo had a breakout season in 2010, recording career-bests in wins (14), games started (29), innings pitched (202.1), strikeouts (158) and WHIP (1.13). In 2011, Kubo went 8-8 with a 3.78 ERA in 20 starts. The right-hander struck out 73 batters and allowed just 108 hits and 36 walks over 109.2 innings. Kubo posted a career-best 2.33 ERA with Hanshin in 2012 over 18 games (16 starts). Kubo recorded one complete game and struck out 65 batters while allowing 99 hits and 25 walks over 108 innings. Kubo went 3-4 with a 2.85 ERA and a career-best six saves in a career-high 44 relief appearances in his final season with Hanshin in 2013. Kubo struck out 46 batters in 53.2 innings and allowed just 49 hits and 17 walks.

Kubo signed with Yokohama in 2014 and finished 12-6 with two complete games (one shutout) over 28 starts. The right-hander struck out 119 batters and yielded 54 walks and 181 hits over 178.1 innings pitched. Kubo went 8-7 in 2015 with two complete games (one shutout) in 21 starts. Kubo recorded 88 strikeouts in 122.1 innings and allowed 130 hits while walking just 27 batters. Kubo went 5-8 with one complete games and a 3.55 ERA in 15 games in 2016. Kubo struck out 80 batters and yielded 102 hits and 28 walks in 96.1 innings.

The Gary SouthShore RailCats open the 2018 season at U.S. Steel Yard on Friday, May 18th vs. the St. Paul Saints. Ticket packages for the 2018 Gary SouthShore RailCats season are available online at railcatsbaseball.com and can also be purchased by calling the RailCats ticket line at (219) 882-BALL. The RailCats box office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

About the Railcats

A day at U.S. Steel Yard is non-stop fun, and that's even without the baseball! The RailCats promise a wide array of laugh-out-loud between inning entertainment, great giveaways, jaw-dropping fireworks and a family-first, kid-friendly atmosphere! RailCats fans come in all ages, shapes, and sizes, and the RailCats promise every fan will have fun.